Here's a quote from the kockums website (http://www.kockums.se/)
about the challenger class sub:
"The RSS Challenger submarine was first launched in 1968 as HMS
Sjöbjörnen (Seabear) within the Sjöormen Class (Sea Serpent) of the
Royal Swedish Navy.
The revolutionary Sea Serpent Class submarine was at the time the
first "real" submarine that succeeded and outdated the existing WW2
designs.
With the Sea Serpent Class Kockums introduced a number of new
technologies including the modern hydrodynamic hull shape, one-man
manoeuvring system and the X-rudder configuration giving the
submarine outstanding manoeuvring characteristics.
The Sjöbjörnen submarine was modified and upgraded for tropical
conditions 1996-1997 and re-launched as RSS Challenger on 26
September 1997.
Still, after more than 30 years in service, this submarine in many
respects is at the forefront of submarine technology. RSS
Challenger will proudly serve the Republic of Singapore for many
years to come and represents a real evidence of the very high
quality level of submarines delivered by Kockums.
Four submarines of the Challenger Class are on order to the
Republic of Singapore Navy"
I'm no naval expert, but looking, superficially, at the tear-drop
shaped sjoormen sub, the design is marginally different from the
Viking class sub to be built by the same company.
Anyone knows if this sub can launch harpoons just like the Collins
class boat?
